"LEUCOTHEA" WAS A GREEK GODDESS OF THE SEA; HER NAME MEANS "'WHITE GODDESS'" WHICH COMES FROM THE IMAGE OF THE WHITECAPS ON THE OCEAN OR THE FOAM OF THE TIDES. THIS GODDESS HAD ONCE BEEN A MORTAL WOMAN, "CADMUS'" DAUGHTER "INO". "LEUCOTHEA" IS THE NAME GIVEN TO HER BY THE" NEREIDS" AFTER SHE DROWNED AND WAS MADE INTO A SEA GODDESS.

IN GREEK MYTH, "LEUCOTHEA" THREW HERSELF AND HER INFANT SON INTO THE SEA TO ESCAPE "HERA'S "WRATH. HOWEVER, "DIONYSUS "WOULD NOT LET HER DIE AND TRANSFORMED HER INTO THE WHITE GODDESS OF THE WAVES. HER SON BECAME THE SEA GOD," PALAEMON." NOT ONLY WAS SHE DEIFIED INTO A SEA GODDESS, BUT SHE ALSO BECAME A SOURCE OF SALVATION TO OTHERS, IN PARTICULAR SAILORS FACING ANNIHILATION IN SEA BORN STORMS. ODYSSEUS", FOR INSTANCE, EXPERIENCED HER RESCUING POWER, WHILE ON HIS WAY FROM THE ISLAND OF "CALYPSO, "WHEN HIS SHIP WAS WRECKED, AND HE HIMSELF WAS PERISHING IN THE WATERS, POSEIDON HAVING CAUSED A MIGHTY STORM. HOMER, IN THE "ODYSSEY", THUS DESCRIBES IT:

"THE ROLLING FLOOD, NOW HERE, NOW THERE, IMPELL'D THE FLOATING WOOD."AND NOW THE SOUTH, AND NOW THE NORTH, BEAR SWAY,"AND NOW THE EAST THE FOAMY FLOODS OBEY,"AND NOW THE WEST WIND WHIRLS IT O'ER THE SEA."THE WANDERING CHIEF WITH TOILS ON TOILS OPPRESS'D,"LEUCOTHEA SAW, AND PITY TOUCH'D HER BREAST."(HERSELF A MORTAL ONCE, OF CADMUS STRAIN,"BUT NOW AN AZURE SISTER OF THE MAIN.)"SWIFT AS A SEA-MEW SPRINGING FROM THE FLOOD,"ALL RADIANT ON THE RAFT THE GODDESS STOOD:"THEN THUS ADDRESS'D HIM: "THOU WHOM HEAVEN DECREES"TO NEPTUNE'S WRATH, STERN TYRANT OF THE SEAS!"Strip off thy garments; Neptune's fury brave,